Yesterday, House Republicans continued their attack on women’s health and to further restrict access to reproductive health care, more evidence that we are devolving into Margaret Atwood’s horrifying and prophetic vision. What an unfortunate backdrop set by the United States for a larger story about global misogyny.
PBS has produced a remarkable Five-Part Series examining the global affront on women’s rights and how we treat women around the world. The series includes a look at rape camps and the institutionalized raping of women. The testimony presented by many women is so powerful and disturbing and I hope it compels people to take action! I would also point to the testimony of actor Matt Damon, who also narrates the PBS special; it is nice to see men standing up for the rights of women. Again, I point to Karl Marx:
Anyone who knows anything of history knows that great social changes are impossible without feminine upheaval. Social Progress can be measured by the social position of the female sex.
The US is not able to take the moral high ground here as a leader, but as you will see from the PBS special, the world as a whole has a long way to go to creating gender parity. Thank goodness for heroes who are working toward gender equality. Here is the link to PBS. My friend Jennifer Lockett also took action and posted a great article about women during times of war and peace.
Social Justice For All 
Thank you for posting this important story! In America, as we have not experienced a war at home in more than a century, we tend to forget the atrocities of warfare. Women disproportionately suffer in war – especially as in many countries they have no right to participate in the politics that create wars. Things like organized gang rape are instituted methods of torture by many military groups. Even worse, this often occurs in cultures where women who are raped are ostracized by their communities and families. The first step to stopping this is to raise awareness.
Great article Michael! I hope someday that women will experience full equality across the globe.
I hope it will happen within our lifetime.